Chicago Bears (5-6) at Detroit Lions (7-4)

Thursday, 12:30 p.m. ET, at Ford Field, Detroit – TV: FOX

*TV announcers: Jim Nantz, Phil Simms, Tracy Wolfson

*Keys to the game: Eleven screen passes and 25 throws that traveled no more than six yards in the air was the New England Patriots’ antidote for a Detroit defense that “is the best in the NFL” according to Bears coach Marc Trestman.

Because of numerous changes on the offensive line, the Bears are not thriving in the screen game but consider utilizing RB Matt Forte and TE Martellus Bennett underneath a key on this short week. Chicago put up only 204 total yards last week and almost entirely absent was the deep passing game. Slowing down the game might help QB Jay Cutler limit self-inflicted wounds, but he must take his shots to WRs Alshon Jeffery and Brandon Marshall, who own a distinct height advantage over Detroit’s cornerbacks.

The Lions mustered five field goals — 15 total points — in consecutive road losses to the Cardinals and Patriots. To ease protection woes and loosen the Bears’ inside-out bracket coverage of WR Calvin Johnson, coach Jim Caldwell figures to incorporate a power running game plan before cutting QB Matthew Stafford loose. Trouble is, Detroit has a team average of 3.3 yards per carry and RB Reggie Bush hasn’t proven a threat.

Big plays, especially from tight ends, remain a bugaboo for the Bears because of poor safety play. If Stafford gets hot, Johnson and Golden Tate, who is already over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career, could chew up the Chicago secondary.

*Matchup to watch – Bears DE Willie Young: Lions LT Riley Reiff (knee) looked like he’d need a miracle to play Thursday after leaving one snap into the loss at New England. Young, a former Lions pass-rush specialist, leads the Bears with 8.0 sacks and is in tune with the opponent this week, billing Stafford as a “little low on protection right now.” The Bears had five sacks last week, but just three in the previous three games.

*Player spotlight – Lions LB DeAndre Levy: Levy is built like a running back with that kind of speed. Teams of late have been able to use his aggressiveness against him, and Chicago’s short-area outlets in Forte and Bennett will have chances to beat the undersized Levy in one-on-one coverage.

*Fast facts: The Bears are scoreless in the first quarter of six consecutive games. … Stafford has passed for 771 yards and five touchdowns in his past two games on Thanksgiving. … The Lions are appearing in an NFL-high 75th Thanksgiving Day game (34-38-2).

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

Johnson celebrates Thanksgiving with a touchdown for the sixth consecutive year, and gets the Lions back in the win column with the Bucs (2-9), Vikings (4-7) and Bears up before ending the season at Lambeau Field.

*Our pick: Lions 27-18